news An arts movement has been happening in Rosemount over the last few years. Next week, the intensity of the movement will turn up to a blast.
The Rosemount Area Arts Council will host its first weeklong arts festival, Art Blast, June 23 to June 29. The week will feature a variety of arts related...
Rosemount, 55024

Rosemount Minnesota P.O. Box 192 / 312 Oak St. 55024

2014-06-26 14:00:06

An arts movement has been happening in Rosemount over the last few years. Next week, the intensity of the movement will turn up to a blast.

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The Rosemount Area Arts Council will host its first weeklong arts festival, Art Blast, June 23 to June 29. The week will feature a variety of arts related activities, many of which will be free to the public.

“It will be an explosion of the arts,” said Jeanne Schwartz, RAAC president.

Activities launched Monday with a full schedule of events throughout the day. Monday’s activities will include the opening ceremony for the One Tile-One Rosemount community art project.

RAAC members developed the idea of hosting Art Blast after they were encouraged to think about hosting a second summer festival. Organizer John Loch said for the last few years RAAC members have heard from people in the community that it would be nice to have another communitywide event earlier in the summer.

As the arts movement has gathered steam in Rosemount, Loch said the idea warranted more thought and this year RAAC acted on the suggestion.

While it’s been a lot of work for the small committee, Loch said they have received support from local businesses. Sponsorships were especially important as the group had little money with which to launch the event.

Fluegel’s Farm, Garden and Pet Supplies signed on as a sponsor as well and will host an Art Blast event. Fluegel’s event will feature crop art, face painting and bluegrass music from 10 a.m. to noon June 28.

Throughout the week, musicians will take center stage in Rosemount’s Central Park. Musical acts will include the Moses Oakland Quintet, Paul Holland Band and the South of the River Community Band.

On Friday the Eelpout Stringers will provide music and caller Dick Reuter will lead a square dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Members of the Twin Cities Square Dancing club will teach basic moves.

Those who would like to learn to play an instrument will have a fun opportunity on Saturday. The Bartig Brothers will teach ukulele lessons from 1 to 3 p.m. in Rosemount’s Central Park. The brothers will offer a free lesson and provide the ukuleles. At the conclusion of the lesson, the Bartig Brothers will perform a brief concert. Those interested should pre-register by calling Loch at 952-255-8455.

Saturday night will be filled with Bluegrass Americana music. Musical artists will perform from 5 to 9 p.m. Bands performing include The Fly Rite Girls, No Grass Limit, The Fishheads and Rosemount’s own Sawtooth.

Art Blast will conclude June 28 with the Rosemount Sings competition, which will be held 3 to 9 p.m. The event is an amateur singing competition for vocalists 15 to 25. The winner will go on to compete at the state level.

Visual arts

While there will be a number of activities surrounding the visual arts, one will have a lasting impact in the community. The One Tile-One Rosemount community art project will create an 8’ x 8’ mural that will hang in the entry of the Robert Trail Library.

Over the course of the summer, RAAC will host tile signing events to involve as many members of the Rosemount community as possible. The project will begin at 6 p.m. June 23 with kick-off celebration at the Steeple Center.

The event will bring state, county and city dignitaries together to be the first to personalize one of 9,200 1”x1” wood tiles.

RAAC commissioned artist Carly Schmitt to create the collaborative art project. Schmitt led a similar art project in Vadnais Heights with the Make Your Mark campaign in 2011. The tiles will become part of the mural, which represents the community’s history.

Loch said the painting is reminiscent of what Rosemount’s first settlers would have seen when they arrived by boat and landed at Pine Bend, which is now part of Rosemount. He said settlers originally settled there and then gradually journeyed westward to the present site of Rosemount.

Tile signing events will be held throughout Art Blast and will continue through the summer until all of the tiles have been signed. Loch said they hope to get as many Rosemount residents as possible to sign the tiles.

In addition to the community art project, the winners of the Rosemount Photography Contest will have their photographs on display starting June 26 at the Steeple Center.

For those who enjoy comics, Jack and Greta Kotz will teach a comic art class starting at 10 a.m. June 27 at the Steeple Center.

Theater

Theatrical performers will take stage on a number of occasions throughout the week. On Tuesday Pizpor the Magician will entertain with his unique blend of family friendly magic and comedy from 7 to 8 p.m. in Rosemount’s Central Park.

Area actors will perform the melodrama A Penny Saved at 7 p.m. June 25. Director Keith Reed said A Penny Saved is an amusing production that audiences love.

“It’s a lot of fun with high audience participation,” said Reed.

The audience is encouraged to boo the villain and cheer the hero. Marshmallows will be handed out to throw and the villain as well.

For children, the Rosemount Parks and Recreation staff will present Puppets in the Park on June 27. The Rosemount Puppet Wagon will start with a performance at Camfield Park at 9:30 a.m., then move on to Connemara at 10:15, Bloomfield Park at 11 a.m. and Jaycee Park at 11:45 a.m.

Emily Zimmer has worked as a staff writer for the Rosemount Town Pages since 2007. She has a degree in journalism from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Outside of work, Emily enjoys running, reading and gardening.
You can follow Emily's gardening adventures at the Areavoices blog East of Weedin'.